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Sunday, April 6, 2014

Three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele of
Ethiopia won the Paris marathon Sunday on his debut at the distance. Bekele
completed the 42-kilometre (26-mile) race in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 4 seconds to
break the race record set by Stanley Biwott of Kenya in 2012. Limenih Getachew
of Ethiopia finished second, 1:45 behind. Luka Kanda of Kenya placed third. Flomena
Cheyech of Kenya dominated the women’s race in 2:22:44, more than three minutes
ahead of Yebrgual Melese of Ethiopia. Bekele won the gold medal in the 5,000
metres and 10,000 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as well as the 10,000 at the
2004 Athens Games. He has struggled with injuries over the past few years and
hasn’t won a major title since the 2009 world championships in Berlin. “It’s my
first marathon, I don’t have experience before,” Bekele told France 3
television. “It was very tough. Anyway, I made the time I expected.” The
leading group reached the halfway stage in 1:02:09. Bekele accelerated in the
27th kilometer to break up a small group. Only compatriot Tamirat Tola was able
to keep pace with him before dropping three kilometres later. Bekele had a
small scare eight kilometres from the finish as he felt a strain in his left
thigh. “My hamstring muscle was not good,” Bekele said. “It was cramping. I was
worried.” A field of about 42,000 runners started the 38th edition of the Paris
race from the Champs Elysees Avenue. Source ( AP)